Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-12-16 14:03Core Insights - The central theme of the article is the recognition of "The Architects of AI" by Time magazine, marking a shift from the hype of AI to a more grounded phase of development and application [1][24]. Group 1: Recognition and Evolution - On December 11, Time magazine announced its 2025 Person of the Year as "The Architects of AI," indicating a transition in the global narrative of artificial intelligence from a prophetic phase to a construction phase [1][24]. - Baidu's founder, Li Yanhong, has been recognized multiple times by Time magazine, evolving from "Innovator" in 2018 to "AI Leader" in 2023, and now to "AI Builder," reflecting Baidu's strategic implementation of AI [6][29]. - Baidu has transformed from a search engine company to a leading full-stack AI company, with a diverse portfolio including chips, cloud infrastructure, models, agents, applications, and consumer products [7][30]. Group 2: AI Applications and Strategy - At the Baidu World Conference on November 13, the company showcased a series of advanced AI products and applications, emphasizing the importance of real-world applications in creating sustainable value [8][31]. - The article highlights the intense competition in the AI sector, with model parameters skyrocketing from hundreds of billions to trillions, leading to a significant increase in training costs and a homogenization of foundational models [9][32]. - Li Yanhong emphasizes that the focus should be on applications rather than creating a superintelligent AI, pointing out the need for AI to address challenges in China's strong manufacturing sector [10][33]. Group 3: Innovative Solutions - A key example of Baidu's application of AI is the recently launched super-intelligent agent "Famu," designed to find optimal solutions in real industrial environments [11][34]. - Unlike most generative AIs focused on chat and image generation, "Famu" aims to solve complex problems such as supply chain scheduling and traffic signal optimization [12][35]. - Li Yanhong anticipates that the most significant breakthrough in the industry by 2025 will be in multimodal AI, with hopes for revolutionary changes in drug development through AI [13][36]. Group 4: Long-term Vision and Strategy - Baidu's strategy is clear: leveraging full-stack technology to tackle challenging problems, which may not seem as grand as the concept of general artificial intelligence (AGI) but will create substantial value for the real economy [15][38]. - The article suggests that Li Yanhong's focus on applications is a higher-dimensional strategic determination, as models without applications may merely be code without real-world impact [15][38]. - The evolution of Li Yanhong's identity as a "builder" has been a long-term strategy, with roots tracing back seven years [16][39]. Group 5: Future of AI - The article concludes that future AI giants will not be those with the largest parameter models but those that can effectively solve real human problems using AI [23][46]. - Li Yanhong's shift from a prophetic role to a builder's mindset is seen as essential for AI companies to thrive in the evolving landscape [24][47].